Personal Items and Security

Most of the Library's reading rooms restrict the type of personal
belongings that researchers can bring with them. This is done to
enhance
the security of the Library's collections, and to ensure that an
atmosphere fostering research is maintained in the reading rooms.
In June 1998,
the Library implemented new restrictions
on personal belongings that researchers can bring
with them into the Main Reading Room. Policies
differ for the various reading rooms, with some requiring that researchers
store all personal items before entering the reading room. Researchers
should consult the various reading room home
pages for more details. A cloakroom for researchers is provided
on the ground
floor of the Jefferson Building in Room LJ G39-G. This cloakroom
is open from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursday.
Another cloakroom, located near the 1st Street carriage entrance
on the ground floor of the Jefferson Building, is open Mondays through
Saturdays from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. A cloakroom in the Madison
Building adjacent to the Reader
Registration Station in LM 140 is open from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30
p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays; and from 8:30 a.m.
to 5:00 p.m. on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. Some reading
rooms also provide lockers for researchers to secure their belongings.

Individuals should limit the amount of personal property they bring
into the Library. Persons entering the Library do so with the understanding
that all property in their possession, including (but not limited
to) suitcases, briefcases, attache cases, handbags, large envelopes,
packages, and office equipment, will be inspected by the Library
Police. There will be a similar inspection upon departure.